News courtesy of Kevin Foster
Grant Boost for Torquay’s Oldest Home
Torquay’s oldest home has secured a £42,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Kent’s Cavern provided shelter to some of the earliest residents of the bay long before history began to be written. The HLF grant has been awarded for “Project Firestone”, which will be designed to encourage people to identify, look after and celebrate the exceptional prehistoric heritage in our area, with a particular focus on the ancient human occupation of Kents Cavern and other prehistoric sites.
As part of this work a full time graduate post will be created for an education, community and outreach officer for the Kents Cavern Foundation. The Foundation is a new charitable organisation delivering education, scientific research and conservation at the caves.
You can read more about the project on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
Still Time To Have Your Say on Lincombe Woods Plans
There is a proposal for new cycle tracks through Lincombe Woods.
Objections have been raised, mostly highlighting the potential impact on the environment and the character of the woods overall.
If you have not yet seen them you can find the plans being put forward by the council, together with ecological and feasibility reports, online at www.torbay.gov.uk/lincombewoods.
The deadline for comments given is today (Saturday 31st May), but even if you read this afterwards it si still worth putting your views in, as given the reaction, there will be a period afterwards when key decisions will be made about it.
You can send your comments to naturalenvironment@torbay.gov.uk
Have Your Say on The Bay’s Energy and Climate Change Strategy
Torbay Council has recently launched a consultation on its new draft energy and climate change strategy.
Since 1990 emissions from Torbay have reduced by 25%, although national targets mean going much further over the next 25 years. The draft strategy can be viewed in Connections offices and libraries throughout the Bay, and on line at: www.torbay.gov.uk/climatechange.
Comments can be made via e-mail to sustainability@torbay.gov.uk. Please note the deadline for comments is 18 June 2014.
Cycle Track Set Open
The new Velo Park in Clennon Valley is set to open this Sunday (1st June) with a Cycling Festival being held and discounted car parking for those attending.
The Cycling Festival, from 10am-5pm, takes place at the Velo Park and will see several races taking place throughout the morning, before the circuit is opened up to the public to try out their own bike skills on the 1.5km track.
As well as a chance to ride on the brand-new circuit, there will be lots of free activities at the festival. There is also a chance to pick up some great prizes and rewards by registering online at www.goskyride.com/Torbay.
Everyone who registers for the festival will receive a special event lanyard on the day; in addition, the first 1,000 registrants to sign up will also receive a limited edition British Cycling reward. Registration for the Family Ride is completely free.
Councillor Robert Excell, who is Torbay Council’s Executive Lead for Sport,said:
“We want to attract the committed racer and members of the wider public alike who want to take part of cycling club activity. This regional centre for cycling is a great addition to Torbay’s sporting infrastructure, and really puts us on the map for cycling development as well as creating an exciting new facility for visitors and residents of Torbay who just want to come along and have fun.”
A special offer has been arranged to encourage use of the Car Parks by those attending. Parking will cost only £1 at Clennon Valley, Quay West and I believe Youngs Park, but please check when parking
Do You Really Need To Visit A&E?
There have been warnings this week that pressure on our local Hospital’s A&E Department could result in routine operations being cancelled.
Whilst the NHS budget has been protected in this Parliament a surge of visitors to A&E is putting pressure on the Hospital’s resources. Yet many of the matters that prompted a visit could have been better dealt with by visiting a local GP or Pharmacist.
You can find out more about making the right choices with your Health Care by visiting the NHS website.
If you are concerned about an illness or just need advice on something affecting your health then the NHS 111 non-emergency service is available 24 hours a day.
‘Concert Hall’ on Torre Abbey Green
Many driving along Torbay Road this week may have wondered about the big white marquee on the green in front of Torre Abbey.
It is a great chance to step inside a giant digital orchestra filled with over 100 musicians from the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Re-Rite is open daily from 12noon-8pm, and it’s free. You have until 7th June to join in the fun so don’t miss out.
This Week’s events
D-Day 70th Anniversary
A spectacular weekend of events and exhibitions will be held at Torquay’s Beacon Quay and Princess Gardens to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. There will also be a commemorative mass flotilla with Royal Navy escort on Sunday 8th June.
The two concrete slipways at Beacon Quay in Torquay Harbour were constructed for the embarkation of American troops for Operation Overlord, the springboard for the Allied invasion of German-occupied Western Europe.
Friday 6 June
10am Exhibitions open at Torquay Museum (open till 1 November 2014)
Using a mixture of rarely seen photos of wartime Torbay, together with uniforms, weapons and objects from World War II, this exhibition brings to life the impact of the world’s largest conflict on our area.
Visitors can handle rifles, machine guns and helmets used by soldiers at the sharp end of this epic conflict, then view a selection of their uniforms. Top-secret documents can be seen, and the stories are told of Torbay’s involvement in the preparations for the D-Day landings, the American soldiers based in this area and how Torquay suffered during German bombing raids.
Saturday 7 June
10am D-Day exhibition and stalls open with military re-enactments throughout the day at Princess Gardens.
11am – 12 noon Normandy Veterans Memorial Service and Parade at Beacon Quay and Haldon Pier. During the service maroons will be sounded for start and end of one minute silence.
11am Laying of wreath at Beacon Quay Memorial.
1pm-4pm P2000 Navy patrol boats open to the public on Haldon Pier, Torquay.
1 – 4pm D-Day Musical Tribute on the stage at Princess Gardens featuring: 1 – 1.45pm – Keedie, the English Riviera’s own girl with the golden voice.2 – 4pm – The Rockabellas combine stunning close harmony vocals with big band arrangements, featuring toe-tapping wartime tunes.
Sunday 8 June
10am D-Day exhibition and stalls open with military reenactments throughout the day at Princess Gardens.
10am-12noon P2000 Navy patrol boats open to the public on Haldon Pier, Torquay.
12 noon – 2pm – D-Day 70th Anniversary Musical Tribute from The New Squadronnaires live on stage at Princess Gardens The New Squadronaires play to audiences all over the country with the music of the great swing bands of the 1940s including Glenn Miller.
2pm – D-Day Commemorative Mass Flotilla of around 100 vessels across Tor Bay starting from Torquay with Royal Navy Escort by HMS Pembroke and ending in Brixham Harbour.
5pm – iOrchestra Concert – Torre Abbey Meadows. Live Open Air Concert. Join the full Philharmonia Orchestra for a free open air Sunday afternoon concert for all the family
Friends of the Memorial Gardens (Union St, Torquay) Public Meeting
There will be a Public Meeting of the Friends of the Memorial Gardens on Saturday 31st May at 10:30am.
If weather is good the meeting will be under the big tree at the centre.
The gardens, just off Union Street, Torquay were originally used by patients at the old Torbay Hospital.
OPEN AIR PROMS
Sunday 29th June 6pm – 10pm.
Stoodley Knowle School will be hosting the Open air proms featuring Devon Youth Wind Orchestra Musical Director Steve Grant, Soloist Val Howels, West End Musical Stars Keedie, Paul Cobley, Wayne Champagne, Stephanie Blackler, Lisa T. Winter, Lily Laight Plus The Stoodley Knowle School Choirs and Soloists
Tickets are available from The Babbacombe Theatre Box Office or Stoodley Knowle School – tel 01803 293160
Adults £20 · Under 16 £5 · Under 5 FREE
